This thread is for a Bard character class. I think this class could have quite a bit of potential depending on how it was portrayed, and the type of mechanics it had.
Some Ideas:
Obviously one of the Bard skill trees would be "Music". Music would consist of very powerful status affliction, damage over time, and buff spells that are balanced by a relatively long cast time (Playing an instrument). Example: Lullaby - Mass SleepThe Bard has the option to keep music spells going indefinitely by continually recasting at the right time interval. This allows for another skill: Instrument Mastery - Allows bard to move at 60% movement speed while playing music. Increases music spell power after the first 5 seconds of playing to a maximum of 115%

Effectively the "Music" skill tree would be the spiritual predecessor to the Paladin's Auras. Except that this new spell type would be significantly more powerful.

I imagine some ACDC-esque guy just skipping along swinging his guitar into the faces of anything and everything that gets in the way, all the while singing Danny Boy.

Honestly though I don't see the bard class being one that does any sort of meaningful damage himself. Rather I see him as a support hero who drives enemies against themselves or causes moderate buffs and debuffs for his friends and foes respectively. An interesting idea, but I think the WD is going to be one to overlap some with his mass confusion/terror spell and his aoe spells.

I imagine some ACDC-esque guy just skipping along swinging his guitar into the faces of anything and everything that gets in the way, all the while singing Danny Boy.

Well, there's a reason why they call it an 'axe'.

But in all seriousness, I can't quite see Blizzard implementing such a class into D3. The concept is just a little too iffy and doesn't exactly lend itself to awesome graphics full of blood and explosions. And to be frank, I don't think the Bard has enough variation in its skill set. I mean, aside from singing songs to cast spells, what else can it do?

They want all classes to be able to solo just as well as single play, so I can't really see a bard being 'primarily' a buff class- seeing as how no class should have any sort of initial function to it to be considered for any sort of grouping.

Well I imagine the big guy from DeathClock running around with a microphone and a electric guitar strapped to his back; does this character clas sound a bit silly to any of you? I just don't like that yet...

Well I imagine the big guy from DeathClock running around with a microphone and a electric guitar strapped to his back; does this character clas sound a bit silly to any of you? I just don't like that yet...

"We will make pants black. We will make the world black. Blacker that the blackest black, times infinity."

"The warmth of life has entered my tomb. Prepare yourself, Mortal, to serve my Master for eternity."

"You speak of justice? Of cowardice? I'll show you the justice of the grave, and the true meaning of fear."